Waterhouse FC, the struggling Red Stripe Premier League bottom-of-the-table team, will meet Arnett Gardens in the final of the Locker Room Sports/KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout competition following contrasting semi-final wins at the Harbour View Mini Stadium on Sunday.

The playing of the final will be delayed due to overseas engagements by Arnett Gardens in the Caribbean Club Championship.

Waterhouse, the defending champions and five-time winners, defeated Super League team August FC with a late strike from Kemar Beckford in the second minute of time added, while in the clash of the junglists, Arnett Gardens stopped Boys’ Town FC 2-0 with goals from Ranike Anderson in the 10th and Michaelos Martin in the 39th minutes in the feature game.

To reach this year’s final, it was no easy task for the finalists. And given the competitiveness of the matches, Arnett Gardens acquitted themselves with distinction against the neighbouring rivals Boys’ Town and showed a readiness for the final, while Waterhouse looked far from the team that won the competition last year as they struggled against the lower Super League August Town FC who are second from the bottom of Zone A.

While Waterhouse won with a scrambled goal, Arnett Gardens looked imperious with two well-executed strikes first from Anderson, who put his team ahead with a thunderous shot from the centre of the box after latching onto a back-heel flick on from Marvin Morgan. Just before this, the towering Dicoy Williams rattled the Boys’ Town crossbar with an explosive header to set the tone of intent.

However, Arnett Gardens had to wait for another 29 minutes before scoring the second goal through Martin, who ran onto a deft through pass from Andrew Phang before hitting past Kirk Porter. After this, Boys’ Town took up the challenge and kept the marauding Martin, Kemal Malcolm and Morgan from doing further damage.

What was noticeable though, after the second goal, Arnett Gardens seemed to back off and began to pass the ball around to end the half. On the resumption, Boys’ Town were more resolute in defence and with Porter on top of his game, Arnett Gardens failed to increase their advantage. Boys’ Town caused a few anxious moments of their own for Arnett Gardens but the game ended without any further scoring.